da luck： © CricInfo It was the levelheaded approach of Ramnaresh Sarwan that helpedthe West Indies to a thrilling win at Jamshedpur
Erapalli Prasanna07-Nov-2002
© CricInfoIt was the levelheaded approach of Ramnaresh Sarwan that helpedthe West Indies to a thrilling win at Jamshedpur. I mustcongratulate the tourists team for the resilience they haveshown. After losing the first two Test matches, they have shown apositive approach to their game, and that has patently manifesteditself in a marked improvement in their fielding standards.The signs of improvement started showing even during the KolkataTest, and there is a very definite air of positive confidence totheir body language now. After the Jamshedpur one-dayer, the teamwill now be boosted even more by the performances of their toporder batsmen like Wavell Hinds and Marlon Samuels. And eventhough the experienced Carl Hooper may have failed, Sarwanrefused to throw away his wicket and, ignoring the mountingpressure, sealed a scintillating win.For India, promoting Ajit Agarkar to number three must be ratedas a big gamble. Fortunately for the team management, the gamblepaid off. Agarkar played very well for his 95 runs, and it wasgood to see him involved in two big partnerships, with VVS Laxmanand then with Rahul Dravid.Mohammad Kaif played yet another brilliant cameo towards the end.Surely India have now found their own version of Michael Bevan, alate-order player who can hit up quick runs, consolidate whenneeded, and pace a one-day chase well. Kaif has shown glimpses ofall three skills, and the first of the three helped India to tatotal of 283 – a good score, especially in the absence of aninjured Sachin Tendulkar.But Agarkar’s success with the bat may pose a few problems. WithKaif then coming in at number eight, the batting line-up looksrather over-crowded, and when Tendulkar returns, either Agarkarwill have to move back to his slot in the tail or one of theregular batsmen will have to make way.
© CricInfoThen again, going by their display at Jamshedpur, the surfeit ofriches in the batting department is the least of India’s worriesin one-day cricket. The fact that they failed to defend a scoreof 283, on a placid Indian pitch, must be a worrying factor forthe team management. As the tour progresses, the West Indians arealso getting used to Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh; notably,Samuels, Hinds and Sarwan are finding their feet against bothspinners. The pitch was a touch on the slower side and shouldhave helped Kumble and Harbhajan, yet both were completelyoutplayed.Virender Sehwag was the onlybowler to create an impact on the West Indies. I thought hebowled intelligently and was crucial in the Windies almostchoking towards the end. It is this lack of depth in the Indianbowling that causes worry.The two teams look very evenly matched at the moment, and theremaining games of this one-day series might continue in the samepattern. It is the change in batting fortunes of the West Indiesthat has made all the difference, and the likes of Sarwan,Samuels and Hinds have the right attitude towards the game. Ifthey can concentrate on the job a touch harder and score heavily,the West Indies might give this experienced Indian team a realscare.